Passing

 

Passing
ID Name Who Notes
QI Quick In WR quick inside pattern, 0-5 yards
QO Quick Out WR quick outside pattern, 0-5 yards
QL Sideline Pass WR sideline timing pattern, streeak
SI Short In WR short inside pattern, 5-10 yards
SO Short Out WR short outside pattern, 5-10 yards
SL Slant WR short inside, 10 yards going deep
SM Seam Pass WR short inside pattern, 5-10 yards in seam of zone
DI Down & In WR deep pattern, inside, 10-20 yards (hook, comeback)
DO Down & Out WR deep outside pattern, 10-20 yards (square to sideline)
DL Down & Long WR deep corner or post, 20 yards going deep (bomb)
DS Stop & Go WR deep pattern in or out, breaking long
OP Option Pass WR QB rollout, run/pass option
LI Look In TE short inside pattern, 5-10 yards
LO Look Out TE short outside pattern, 5-10 yards
LL Look Long TE short inside, 10 yards going deep
FI Flare In RB short inside pattern, 5-10 yards (crossing pattern)
FO Flare Out RB short outside in the flat, 0-5 yards (flare)
FL Flare Long RB short inside, 0-5 yards going deep (swing)
SC Screen Pass RB dumpoff on fake deep, screen
OS Option Screen WR deep option to WR or screen to RB
DC Dumpoff Screen RB dumpoff pass to running back on option screen
PL Play Action Long WR run fake, deep corner or post, streak (bomb)
PI Play Action In WR run fake, inside short crossing pattern
PO Play Action Out WR run fake, outside quick pass
PS Play Action Slant WR run fake, inside streak, slant
PA Play Action Option WR run fake, QB rollout with run/pass option
DP Dumpoff Deep WR dumpoff to secondary receiver, deep
FP Dumpoff Back RB dumpoff pass to running back, in the flat
LP Dumpoff Tight End TE dumpoff pass to tight end, short
SP Dumpoff Short WR dumpoff to outlet receiver, short

 

Quick In Back to Table
Quick timing pattern, in which the receiver takes a few steps to the inside, catches a quick pass from the quarterback, and tries to make his yardage after the catch. It is a pattern in which the receiver takes advantage of the "cushion" offered by his defender.

 

Quick Out Back to Table
A similar timing pattern to Quick In, with the receiver turning outside and trying to run after the catch.

 

Sideline Pass Back to Table
The ball is thrown over the shoulder of the receiver on a timing pattern. If the receiver is in man coverage, then the chance of completion is good, but against zone coverage the defender will be facing the quarterback and watching the ball, so the chance of completing the pass is poor and the chance of an interception high.

 

Short In Back to Table
Short pattern to a receiver running a cross or hitch pattern five to ten yards deep across the middle of the field. The chances of completion are good, even against pass defenses, but there is little prospect of the receiver making yardage after the catch and the receiver has a good chance of taking a big hit for his troubles.

 

Short Out Back to Table
Also five to ten yards deep, but the receiver turns towards the sideline. Yardage is likely to be good against run defences or blitzes when the receiver will be in single coverage, but against pass defenses the completion chance will be poor.

 

Slant Back to Table
A short pattern, with the receiver slanting across the field and taking the reception on the run. If the centre of the field is vacant then there is a good prospect of a long run after the catch. If there are defensive backs lurking in the middle of the field then the chances of the pass being broken up, intercepted, or the receiver being nailed after the catch are high.

 

Seam Pass Back to Table
Similar to a Short In pattern, but looks to expose zone defenses. The wide receiver "sits" in the seams of a zone defense and completion percentage against zones ought to be good. Poor against bump and run and linebacker drops, where the receiver is likely to be flattened.

 

Down & In Back to Table
A hook or comeback pattern run ten to twenty yards deep, with the receiver turning back towards the quarterback. The yardage is the least of any deep pattern, but the chance of completion is higher, particularly against pass defenses.

 

Down & Out Back to Table
Slightly deeper than Down & In and likely to gain more yardage against run defenses or blitzes. Against pass defenses the chance of completion is very poor.

 

Down & Long Back to Table
The long bomb. The receiver streaks down field and looks to catch the ball on the run. The chance of completion is poor, especially if the defense is playing for the pass, but if the pass is caught, yardage is likely to be very high.

 

Stop & Go Back to Table
A deep pattern, where the receiver breaks in or out before turning upfield again, hoping that the defender has bought the first move. If completed, the yardage is likely to be good, but if the play is used too frequently the defender will take it away. The most likely result of a Stop & Go is that your quarterback gets knocked over while he's waiting for the receiver to get open.

 

Option Pass Back to Table
The quarterback rolls out to the strongside with the option to keep the ball or pass to a receiver downfield, according to how he reads the defense. Against man to man pass defense the quarterback is likely to keep the ball and his mobility and pass protection are likely to be critical to his success in getting yardage. Against a run defense or blitz the pass is likely and the chance of completion is good. If the defense doesn't commit or drops back into zone coverage then the quarterback is likely to struggle, with no receivers open and no rushing lanes available.

 

Look In Back to Table
A basic pattern for a tight end, short over the middle "underneath" the pass coverage. The chance of completion is good and this is the safest pattern over the middle. The yardage after the catch is likely to be relatively poor.

 

Look Out Back to Table
A pass to the tight end turning towards the sideline. Five to ten yards deep, the chance of completion is high, but again the chance of yardage after the catch is relatively small.

 

Look Long Back to Table
A streak pattern to a tight end running downfield. This pattern is the most likely for a tight end to make significant yardage as he catches the ball whilst moving, but is more risky if the defense is expecting the pass.

 

Flare In Back to Table
Similar to the Look In, with the running back going short over the middle, hooking back towards the quarterback. The chance of completion is good, particularly if the defense is playing for the pass and not keying on the running backs.

 

Flare Out Back to Table
A short pattern to a running back outside into the flat. Not unlike a running play, the pass is most effective if the defense has dropped off into pass coverage. If the defense is playing for the run, then the likelihood is that the running back will be covered and unlikely to make much yardage.

 

Flare Long Back to Table
A swing pass, to a running back slanting inside around five yards deep, streaking down the field, If completed yardage is likely to be good, but if the linebackers have dropped off deep, then the play is likely to be broken up.

 

Screen Pass Back to Table
Thrown from a fake pass, with the quarterback and linemen setting up as if for a deep pass, but allowing the pass rushers to penetrate before the ball is dumped off to a running back who has slipped into the flat. The blockers regroup and roll out to block for the running back. Very poor against run defenses, when the defense doesn't penetrate, the play is most effective against a blitz when the defense may be caught on the wrong side of the ball, or against zones where the blockers may overpower isolated defenders.

 

Option Screen Back to Table
A more complicated option play where the QB has the choice of throwing deep to a receiver downfield (the Option Screen play) or dumping off to a back in the flat with a screen of blockers (the Dumpoff Screen play). No other dumpoffs are available, as there's no time to look for secondary receivers.

 

Dumpoff Screen Back to Table
May be used as a play in it's own right, when it's an ordinary screen pass with a downfield fake. There are fewer blockers than for a regular screen pass and success will depend more on the threat of the wide receivers than the ability of your running backs.

 

Play Action Long Back to Table
The longest play action pattern, thrown to a receiver streaking downfield. The chances of completion are poor, but if the pass is caught yardage will be very high.

 

Play Action In Back to Table
A play action pattern to a receiver running a short crossing pattern. Not particularly explosive against run defenses, the play is most useful when the defense is expecting the run but a completion is more important than yardage.

 

Play Action Out Back to Table
A quick play action pass, faking a handoff to a running back on a quick hitting play up the middle, setting up a quick out pass to a wide receiver.

 

Play Action Slant Back to Table
A short play action pattern, to a receiver running an inside slant pattern.

 

Play Action Option Back to Table
An option pass run off a play action fake. Against a run defense results will be good, against a pass defense or blitz the play is likely to be disrupted.

 

Dumpoff Deep Back to Table
Dumpoff to a wide receiver, fifteen to twenty yards deep over the middle.

 

Dumpoff Back Back to Table
Dumpoff pattern to a running back in the flat.

 

Dumpoff Tight End Back to Table
The most common dumpoff pattern, to a tight end "sitting" underneath the coverage in the middle of the field.

 

Dumpoff Short Back to Table
Dumpoff to a wide receiver short near to the sideline.